Closure structure with spraying device



Nov. 21, 1939. P. w.` THAYER 2,180,565

CLOSURE STRUCTURE WITH SPRAYING DEVICE y Nov. 21, 1939. P. w. TH'AYER 2.180,565

CLOSURE STRUCTURE WITH SPRAYING DEVICE Filed June 4, 1956 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 #dar/Wy Patented Nov. 21, 1939 PATENT orties i CLOSURE STRUCTURE WITH SPRAYING DEVICE Paul W. Thayer, Minneapolis, Minn. Application June 4, 1936, Serial No. 83,478

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a closure structure, and particularly to a closure structure for a retort. While the invention might have various applications, it particularly is designed for use in connection with' the generator of a gas making apparatus.

As is well known in the art, in such apparatus a generator is used and usually in connection with a carbureting chamber and a superheater. A

lbody of fuel is heated in the generator and steam is passed through this fuel to be disassociated and produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. This gas is enriched or carbureted by spraying oil, tar or some hydrocarbon uid thereintc. The

'top of the generator is usually open so that the fuel can be charged thereinto and some sort of a closure member is used for the top of the chamber which extendsvertically in the generator. It has heretofore been the custom to project the oil into the top of the generator from some side thereof or into the passage leading to the carburetor from one side of said passage. It has been realized that this is not the best place from which to project the oil. The ideal place in which to project the oil or hydrocarbon uid would be to spray the same downwardly in a shower into the generator and substantially from the center thereof.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to

provide a closure structure for a retort or generator together with means for projecting oil or hydrocarbon iluid downwardly into the generator and centrally thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a closure member for a retort or generator which is movable for charging said retort or generator, together with means for supplying a gaseous medium under pressure and oil to said closure member and projecting a mixture of the same downwardly from said closure member when the same is in closing position.

It is anc-ther object of the invention to provide a closure structure for a retort or generator comprising a disk-like plate, a supporting means i5 on` which said plate is mounted for universal movement, said means having a chamber therein, means for supplying oil to said chamber and means for supplying steam under pressure to said chamber, a mixture of said oil and steam being i0 projected downwardly from said plate substantially centrally thereof.

-It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a closure structure for a retort or generator comprising a closure member,

55 a supporting means comprising a ball upon which said chamber, said ball and closure member 10' having openings in their bottoms through which a mixture of said steam and oil is sprayed downwardly.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following 15- description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer tol similar parts 'throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical section and 20 partlyin side elevation illustrating the invention;

Fig. 2is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4 as 25 indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows 30 and shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows; l

Fig. 7 is a partial view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in a different position; and 35 1 Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 7 as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, theupper portion of a generator of a gas making apparatus is shown, of which it will onlybe necessary to` consider the casing member I0 which forms the top of the generator and has the central opening Hlatherein. Member l0 is made hollow so that a cooling fluid may be circulated therein and the same has a projecting ledge-forming ange lob of annular form extending about the opening lila..

A shell Ilv has a flange I la projecting outwardly from its upper end resting on the iiange mb. The fuel for the generator is discharged into the top of shell Il and passes therethrough tothe fuel bed. The casing I0 is held in place by lugs l2 which extend over a ange luc' on member I0, which flange rests on the supporting plate I3. Headed and nutted bolts M extend through plate I3 and the lugs l2. Member lll also has secured 55 Athe bottom of chamber I1e.

reduced and exteriorly threaded upper portion therein a comparatively thin steel ring I5 which projects upwardly therefrom at its top. A closure member I6 is provided shown in the general form of a circular disk, said disk having a bottom i'lat annular surface adapted to seat on the ring I5. The plate I6 is carried by a supporting means comprising a member I1. Member I1 has a ball I1a at its lower end which is disposed in a recess or chamber |6a in member I6. A pair of plates I8 are secured to the top of member |5 by the headed and nutted bolts I9, said plates extending closely around ball I1 well above the horizontal diametral plane thereof so that plate I6 is supported on the ball |1a and can have universal movement thereabout. Plate I6 has a frustoconical and downwardly aring opening |619 eX- tending from chamber |611.. The ball |1a has a chamber I1b therein of cylindrical form, the same being shown as having a semi-spherical bottom and a small downwardly aring opening I1c extends through the bottom of the ball from' chamber I1b. Chamber |1b has an enlarged cylindrical portion |1d in member I1 above ball I1a., the upper portion of which is interiorly threaded. A cylindrical chamber or countersunk portion I1e of larger diameter than portion I1d is formed in member I1 at its upper end. Member I1 has a chamber or passage I1f cored therein and a bored passage I1g extends from the outer side of member I1 into chamber |1f. Another small passagey |171, is bored from passage |11 into the cylindrical chamber I1d tangentially of the latter. A small apertured nozzle or plug 20 is threaded into passage I1h., the same having a shoulder-forming collar thereon and an angular head at the outer side of said collar. Member I1 has a projection with a at surface |11' thereon at one side through which extends opening |1g and a plug 2| is threaded into opening I1g, said plug also having a shoulder-forming collar thereon engaging surface |11 and having an angular head at the outer side of said collar. Member I1 has a plurality of tapped holes |17 extending downwardly thereinto, the same having their axes substantially vradial to the top semi-spherical surface of mem- A plug 22 is secured in the threaded passage I1d, Y

the same having a collar 22a thereon seated on Member 22 has a 22h on which is threaded the coupling collar 23, the same having a cylindrical top opening and an inwardly projecting flange extending over the outwardly projecting collar of member 24. Member 24 has a downwardly tapered frusto-conical end adapted to seat in an upwardly flaring frustoconical recess in the top of member 22. If desired, packing material may be disposed between members 22 and 24 and about a central tube or conduit 25 exteriorly threaded and on which member 24 is threaded. Conduit 25 extends downwardly through and fits in a central bore in member 22 and extends to the lower end of chamber I1b. A member 26 has a reduced exteriorly threaded portion screwed into the lower end of member 25 and has its outer side sub-` stantially flush with the outer side of member 25. Member 26 has an upwardly flaring frustoconical recess 26a in its upper end communicating with a downwardly Haring frusto-conical recess 26h in its lower end. A collar 21 is threaded on tube 25 and extends over and downwardly around member 24. A T member 28 is threaded onto the top of tube 25 and receives at its upper end the interiorly threaded collar or coupling member 29 having an inwardly extending flange 29a at its top projecting over an outwardly extending flange 30a on a member 30 which rests on the top of member 28 and has a portion extending a short distance into member 28. Member 3U is centrally bored and threaded to receive a threaded valve rod 3| which extends centrally through members 25 and 28 and has adjacent its lower end a spider member 3 Ia having arms fitted in and guided in the cylindrical bore of member 25. A valve stem 3Ib extends below spider 3|a and has an inverted conical portion 3Ic at its lower end adapted to move in recess 26D as rod 3| is screwed upwardly or downwardly so as t0 make larger or smallei` the passage through member 26. Rod 3| has a hand wheel 32 secured 'to its upper end. The upper end of member 30 lower end. Packing material 35 can be placedy around rod 3| in said latter bore and compressed therein by member 34. A flexible conduit 36 is secured to the side of T member 28 and adapted to supply a gaseous medium under pressure, such as steam, to member 28.

Member I 1 has a cap or supporting member 38* secured thereto by headed bolts 39 which pass through bored lugs on member 38 and are screwed into the tapped holes I17`. Member 38 hasa central opening through which member 22 passes'. Member 38 has a bore 38a extending through the lug in alinement with the tapped holes |17 which is in alinement with chamber I1f. A tube `39` which is exteriorly threaded extends through bore 38a and is screwed into said last mentioned hole |17'. A nut 4|] is threaded on tube 39 and engages the top of member 38. Tube 39 has a cylindrical passage extending therethrough and a coupling member 4| is threaded onto the upper end of said tube holding in place the enlarged end 42a. of a coupling member 42. has' a semi-spherical end seated in a semispherical recess in the end of tube 39. A exible tube 43 will be secured to the coupling member 42 and will lead to a suitable supply of oil or other hydrocarbon liquid. This liquid will thus be supplied through tube 39 to the chamber I1f.

Member I1 has an arm I1lc extending laterally therefrom and having a lug |1m pivoted by pivot closed in the use of the gas making apparatus,

closure member I6 occupies the position shown in Fig. 1` and the generator which has its top open-4 ing through the shell II is closed by engagement of member I6 with the ring I5. When the generator is to be charged with fuel bracket |1lc is swung about its pivot or trunnion 44 by depression of rod 46.

In practice rod 46 forms the plunger rod of a piston in a steam cylinder and is drawn downward by said piston. This elevates the other end of arm |11c and lifts member 38 to'l gether with cover I6. Arm I1lc is then swung about the axis of plunger rod 46 so that member I6 is swung out of alinement with shell II. Fuel can now be charged into the generator through smallthickness and acts somewhat las a knife edge to cut through any tar or other` material which might have lodged thereon. Platev I6 is" free'to move about the ball IIa and thus nds la rm and accurate seat on the ring I5.

When it is desired'to discharge theoil or hydr'o-. carbonuid into the'generator for enriching orl carbureting the gas, steam is supplied through' conduit 36. This passes `into'member 28, downl through tube 25, through the valve openingin member 26 and into chamber I'ib. Oil visfsurb plied through conduit 43, the vsame passing through tube 39 into the recess Vif, thence-` through the nozzle plug 2B and passes tangentially into'ehamber lid. The oil is projected in l aicomparatively' ne'jet and is givenav circular. motion in vchamber I'i'd andin chamberv I 'lb'. This projected Aoil Which is sprayed and divided as it leaves 4memberv 26, Vmeets the steam issuing through member 26 and is mixed therewith and the mixture is projected through opening I'Ic, ball Ila With this opening forming a nozzle for the projection ofsaid mixture. The mixture is projected downwardly through opening IISb in an expanding conical shower and is thus projected throughout substantially the entire area of the generator chamber. The oil is thus very nely divided and distributed uniformly through the ascending body of gas. The gas and nely divided particles of oil pass into the carburetor where the hydrocarbon gases are fixed.

The amount of steam used can be nicely regulated by manipulating the hand Wheel 32 which moves the valve 3io and causes a larger or smaller opening in the passage through member 26. The member 25 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly in member 22 to bring member 26 farther from or closer to the bottom of chamber Hb.

' This will regulate the amount of oil sprayed.

The closer member 2E is to the bottom of chamber I'Ib the smaller will be the amount of oil sprayed. After member 25 is thus adjusted to suit the proper amount of oil the spray can be regulated, as stated, by manipulating hand wheel 32 and adjusting valve member 3Ic.v Instead of using flexible conduits extending. to member 26 and to member 39, rigid conduits could be used Which would have a swivel connection moving about the axis of rod 45.

rom the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and efcient closure structure and a structure by means of which the fluid hydrocarbons may be sprayed eectively into the generator chamber. It is apparent that the device will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l.. A closure structure for a retort having in combination, a disk-like member adapted to ex tend over an opening in said retort, a ball on which said member is carried, a supporting means for said ball, said ball having a chamber therein with a". fdischargeopening'- leading 'from itsiflower end andmeansfor delivering-algaseous iiuid and' oil `to said` chamberwhichv is mixedv therein and delivered through'sa'id opening." j. f

W2. A-'closurestruoturerfor' a retorthaving in combination, f-al closure -1 member, a` supporting means for saidv 'member comprising -fa "ball on which 'itfis icarried'rior universal movement, Vsaid ball having a' chamber therein with-an opening leading from the bottom' thereof,` a *valve-carry# ing member ext'endingintork said chamber, aconduit for supplying a gaseous fluid to said'mem'# ber,'-a*cnduit for supplying oil'to' said-chamber whereby' mixed-foil and iluid are vdischanged'4 throughf's'aidbopening. "i y c'losure'I-pl'a'te, al "member `onA which saidplate vis mouted A.for universal. movement comprising al balls-said balli: having a chamber therei'n,*a conduit for the-passage of` agaseous mediumt under pressure' secured to said -b'all fand `extending linto said chamber, 'means for controlling thepassage of `said medium throughsaid. conduit,y la flexible conduit secured uto said first mentioned conduit', a flexible conduit secured to said first mentioned member for supplying oil to said chamber, said ball having an opening through its bottom from said chamber through Which a mixture yof said medium and oil is discharged.

4. The combination with a retort having a vertically extending chamber therein4 with an opening at its top, of a closure member for said opening movable to permit charging of said retort, a second member on which said member is mounted for universal movement, said second member having a central chamber therein and having a second chamber therein at one side of said central chamber, means for delivering oil from said second chamber tangentially into said central chamber, means for delivering oil to said second mentioned chamber and means for delivering a gaseous uid under pressure to said central chamben'said second member having an of said second member through which a mixture of said oil and fluid is projected through said first mentioned opening. p

6.l The combination with a retort having a vertically extending chamber therein with an opening at its top, of a movable closure member .for said opening, a support for said closure'member relative to whichit is universally movable and means carried by said'support for discharging nely divided oil in a shower downwardly into said chamber substantially centrally thereof.

1. The combination with a retort having a vertically extending chamber therein with an opening at its top, of a closure member for said opening, a supporting member having a ball disposed in said closure member about which the latter is universally movable, said supporting member cal top surface, a swinging arm having ,an end,

portion with a semi-spherical lower surface engaging said first mentioned surface, means connecting said supporting member and arm, a conl duit extending into said supporting -member for delivering iiuid under pressure into said last mentioned chamber and a conduit connected to said supporting member for delivering oil into said last mentioned chamber, said oil and uid being mixed in said supporting member and discharged downwardly therefrom into said rst mentioned chamber.

8. The combination with a retort having a vertically extending chamber therein with an opening at its top, of a closure member for said opening, a supporting member connected to said closure member about-which the latter is univer-y sally movable, said supporting member havingv ber, a valve for controlling .the .discharge of said fluid from said conduit, a' conduit connected to;

said'supporting member for delivering oil to said last mentioned chamber, said supporting mem` ber having an opening in its lower end through which said fluid and oil are delivered downwardly, said closure member having an opening through which said oil and iiuid are deliveredv downwardly into said first mentioned chamber.

9. The combination with a retort having a vertically extending chamber therein with an opening at its top, of a movable closure member for said opening, a supporting means for said closure member comprising a ball disposed cen-l trally of said closure member, said ball having a chamber therein with a comparatively small opening leading from the bottom thereof, said closure member having an opening therethrough vertically alined with said opening in said ball and means for delivering oil to said chamber and projecting the same downwardly in nely divided condition in a shower into said chamber.

PAUL W. THAYER. 

